Fluid dispensing system



Feb. 5, 1957 H. E. HElGlS FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 19, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQR. if H6516 ATTOHMZ'Y Feb. 5, 1957 Filed Jan. 19,1953 H. E. HEIGIS FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORAEYUnited States Patent FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM Henry E. Heigis, Nutley, N.J., assignor to Specialties Development Corporation, Belleville, N. J.,a corporation of New Jersey Application January 19, 1953, Serial No.332,065

4 Claims. (Cl. 169-11) This application is a continuation-in-part of myprior application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No.186,142, filed September-22, 1950, now Patent No. 2,630,867.

The present invention relates to high pressure fluid medium dispensingsystems of the type wherein gaseous and/or liquefied carbon dioxide isstored and is released and distributed to primarily utilize the same asa fire extinguishing medium and to accomplish an auxiliary operation.

Such systems generally comprise a source of fluid medium under pressure,a main discharge conduit connected to the source and extending to one ormore zones wherein a fire may occur, a normally closed valve in the mainconduit or branches thereof, an auxiliary'conduit in fluid flowcommunication with the source or another source, and a normally closedvalve in the auxiliary conduit. The main valve usually includes acylinder, a piston in the cylinder for opening the valve and a normallyclosed pilot valve for controlling the admission of the fluid mediumfrom the main conduit to the cylinder. In the operation of the system,the pilot valve of a main valve, which controls the admission of thefluid medium to a selected space, is unseated to condition the mainvalve for opening thereof, and the auxiliary valve of an auxiliaryconduit associated with the selected space is unseated.

The present invention is primarily concerned with providing such asystem wherein the pilot valve and the auxiliary valve are'arranged tobe opened simultaneously under the control of a single mechanism.

'Accordingly, an object ofthe present invention is to provide a systemof the foregoing character wherein the pilot valve and the auxiliaryvalve are mechanically interconnected and the pilot valve housing orchamber and the auxiliary valve chamber are isolated to prevent fluidflow intercornmunication between the main and auxiliary conduits.

Another object is to provide such a system wherein the pilot valvechamber can be vented to the atmosphere.

Another object is to provide such a system wherein the foregoing isaccomplished in a simple, practical and economical manner.

A further object is to provide a combined main valve, auxiliary valveand interconnector arrangement which is extremely compact and is of aminimum weight.

A still further object is to provide such an arrangement which isreliable in operation and is adapted for use in a wide variety ofsystems of the aforementioned type.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, orwill be indicated in the appended claims, andvarious advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description,

and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thespecification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system embodying.

the present invention.

Fig. 2 he longitudinal sectional view illustrating the improvements inaccordance with the invention.

*Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Fig. 1thereof, there is shown a fire extinguishing system of the one pipe typefor protecting a plurality of spaces, herein designated as A and B byway of example. Generally described, the system comprises a bank of oneor more primary or master receptacles or containers 10, and one or moresecondary or controlled receptacles or containers 11, the receptaclesillustrated herein being cylinders of the type for storing fluid mediumunder pressure such as liquefied carbon dioxide or the like and beingconnected for directing the medium to the spaces A and B as describedhereinafter. While two receptacles 10 and two receptacles 11 are shownby way of example, it will be understood that a system in accordancewith the present invention may comprise any number of receptacles 1i)and 11, and, preferably, a greater number of secondary receptacles 11than primary receptacles 10. V

Each of the receptacles 10 and 11 has connected thereto a fluid mediumactuated release control means 12 comprising retaining means, such as amain valve member 14, which controls the discharge of the fluid mediumfrom the receptacle by Way of an opening or main valve port 15surrounded by a valve seat 16, a chamber 17, and a conduit 18 connectedto a common main discharge con 'duit or fluid medium delivery means 1?.

Each fluid medium actuated release control means 12 further comprisesmain valve operating means, such as a piston 20, movable in a cylinder21 which is separated, from the chamber 17 by a partition 22. The lowerportion of the cylinder 21 has a vent 23 for preventing the entrapmentof air, and the piston 20 and the main valve member 14 are operativelyconnected by a piston rod 24 which passes through a gland (not shown) inan opening in thewall 22. A check valve member, such as an apertureddisc 25, is located in the chamber 17 with the rod 24 extendingtherethrough, and is adapted to seal the valve port 15 from the sideopposite the seat 16, whereby the escape of fluid medium in the conduit19 is prevented should a container be detached or be pierced as a resultof gun fire or the like.

The fluid medium release control means 12 of the primary receptacles 10are each provided with a fluid flow connection 26 between the receptacleand the cylinder 21 at the upper side of the piston 20 for effectingoperation of the piston to unseat the main valve members upon release ofa portion of the fluid medium in the receptacle. Release of the mediumfor this purpose is controlled by a pilot valve 27 in the connection 26under the control of a valve unseating device or head 29.

The devices 29 shown herein are of the pull cable actuated type (Fig. 2)which are operated in tandem by a cable 30 extending to a control panelP and provided with manually operable means 31 on the paneh However, itwill be understood that remotely operable control devices of thepneumatic, hydraulic or electro-magnetic type could be utilized.

The connection 26 is further provided with check valve means 32constructed and arranged to permit the fiow of medium through theconnection from the receptacle 10 to the cylinder 21 and to prevent theflow of medium from the cylinder to the receptacle, whereby fluid mediumadmitted into the cylinder is trapped therein in back of the piston. I

In order to eiiect simultaneous operation of all of the secondaryreceptacle release control means by fluid medium in the conduit 19, aconnection 34 is provided between the conduit 18 and the upper end ofthe cylinder 21. The connection 34 is provided with check valve means 35constructed and arranged to permit the flow of medium into the cylinderand to prevent the flow of medium from the cylinder whereby the fluidmedium admitted into the cylinder is trapped therein in back of thepiston.

As illustrated herein, one end of the conduit 19 (at the right asviewed) has fluid flow restricting means, 'such as an orifice 40,connected thereto and the other end of the conduit is in communicationwith a pair of main discharge branch conduits 19a and 19b leading to thespaces A and B, respectively. Each of these branches is provided with adischarge outlet means 41 located in the respective spaces, and anormally closed valve 42a and 42b, respectively, located upstream of theoutlet means.

As shown in Fig. 2, the valves 42a and 42b are of the fluid mediumoperated, pilot valve controlled type, and generally comprise an inlet44, an outlet 45, a port 46 between the inlet and the outlet surroundedby a valve seat 47, a spring urged main valve member 48 for the seat, acylinder 49, a piston 50 in the cylinder having a rod 51 for unseatingthe main valve member, a fluid medium flow connection 52 between theinlet and the cylinder, a pilot valve 54 in the connection 52 forcontrolling the flow of medium to effect operation of the piston 'tounseat the valve member, and a nipple portion 55 which provides ahousing for the pilot valve as indicated hereinafter.

An auxiliary conduit 60 is connected to the downstream end of the flowrestricting means 40 and is in communication with a pair of branches 60aand 60b leading to the spaces A and B, respectively. Each of thesebranches is provided with a fluid medium operated warning means, such asa siren or whistle 61 located in the respective spaces and a normallyclosed valve 62a and 62b, respectively upstream of the warning means(Fig. 1).

As shown in Fig. 2, the valves 62a and 62b are of the mechanicallyoperated type, and generally comprise a valve body 63, aside inlet 65, aside outlet 64, and a vertical through bore 66 formed with a valve seatbetween the inlet and the outlet; a spring urged valve member 69 for theseat for controlling the flow of medium to effect operation of thewarning device 61, and upper and lower stern portions 70 and 71 at therespective sides of the valve member 69 slidably mounted in the bore 66.

The valve body 63 of the valves 62a and 62b is coupled to the nipple 55of the valves 42a and 42b in a manner to house the pilot valve and toprovide for fluid flow in the connection 52 when the pilot valve memberis unseated. The lower end of the stem portion 71 is arranged to engagethe pilot valve member 54 and effect un'seating In order to isolate thepilot valve chamber provided by the nipple 55 in communication with the"bore 66 from the auxiliary conduit also incommunication with the bore66, the lower stem 71 has an -ring 68 thereontorfbr'ming a seal betweenthe stem and the bore. Leakage of fluid medium from the pilot valvetothe auxiliary conduit or vice versa is thus prevented. This isimportant because the rate of flow of the medium through these devicesand the pressure of the medium usually differ and are of a predeterminedvalue, whereby intercommunication between these devices would result inacondition other than is contemplated which may cause malfunctioning ofthe system. Leakage through the upper end of the bore is prevented by anO-ring 73 on the stem 70.

Preferably, provision is made for venting the pilot valve chamber torelease fluid medium under pressure in back of the piston 50 to enablethe main valve to reclose under the influence of its spring. This isaccomplished by providing the bore 66 with vent openings 76 below theO-ring 68 and providing the lower end of the stem with a section 77of'reduced' diameter. When the'pilot valve is opened,

the loss of fluid medium through the vent openings is prevented by anO-ring 78 adjacent the lower end of the bore, and a shoulder portion 79on the stem 71 which engages the O-ring 78.

As shown herein, the control devices 29a and 29b are of pull cableactuated type, and are adapted to be selectively operated by pull cables74a and 7412, respectively, which extend to the control panel P (Fig. 1)where manually operable means a and 75b are provided. The controldevices 29 for the pilot valves of the primary receptacles, asillustrated herein, are identical to the control device's 29a and 29b,although it will be understood that the devices 29a and 291), as well asthe devices 29, could be of the pneumatically, hydraulically orelectromagnetically operated types.

In view of the fact that the illustrative system provides for delayingthe discharge of the secondary receptacles for an interval of time afterthe release of the medium of the primary receptacles into the conduit orpipe 19, this pipe is further provided with a normally closed valve 420positioned between the points at which the conduits 18 of the primaryreceptacles 10 are connected to the pipe and points at which theconduits 18 of the secondaryreceptacles are connected to the pipe sothat fluid medium discharged into the pipe from the receptacles 10 willnot effect operation of the release means of the secondary receptaclesunless the valve 42:: is opened.

The valve 420 is identical to the valves 42a and 42b and has its inlet(which is provided with the pilot valve controlled fluid medium flowconnection) at the side of the pipe 19 in which the primary receptaclesare connected, the pilot valve being adapted to be unseated by anelement of a time delay device 80.

The time delay device is not illustrated in detail because it may be ofany well known type wherein clockwork or fluid medium operated meanseffect delaying the actuation of the element for unseating the pilotvalve of the valve 42c until a predetermined interval of time hasexpired. Such time delay device may be put in operation mechanically bya control device 29cactuated in tandem with the devices 29 by the pullcable 30, or may be put in operation responsive to the pressure of fluidmedium in the conduit or pipe 19 by a conduit 81 connecting the pipe andthe time delay device. 7 I

In operation, should a fire occur in space A, the cables 30' and 74a arepulled whereby the fluid medium in the primary receptacles 10 isreleased and discharged into the pipe 19, the time delay device is putinto operation, and the valve member 69 of the valve 62a and the pilotvalve member 54 of the valve 42a are unseated. I

The fluid medium in the pipe, by reason of the valve 420 being closed,can only flow through the flow restric'ting means, into the conduit 60and the branch 60 a thereof, through the valve 62a and to the warningdevice 61 or other mechanism to be pressure operated.

when the time delay period expires, the valve 42c is opened, and fluidmedium enters the section of the pipe in which the secondary receptaclesare connected and effects release of the fluid medium therefrom. Themedium flowing through the valve 420 and the medium released from thesecondary receptacles is conducted to the branch 19a, and, by reason ofthe pilot valve 54 of the valve 42a being unseated, effect pressureoperation of the piston 50 to unseat the main valve member 48. The fluidmedium then flows through the valve 42a to discharge outlet means 41located in the space A whereby the medium floods this space toextinguish the fire therein.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the presentinvention provides an improved system for selectively discharging fireextinguishing medium into oneof a plurality of spaces wherein a pilotvalve of a main valve and an auxiliary valve are operated simultaneouslyby a singlemechanism. The system is simple and practical, and utilizes aminimum number of valves, control n le 1 l M A devices and fluid flowconnections which are constructed and arranged in a manner to simplifythe operation and assembly of the system.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a fluid distributing system, a main discharge conduit; a normallyclosed valve in said conduit having an inlet and an outlet directlyconnected to said conduit, and including a cylinder, a piston in saidcylinder for opening the valve, and a normally closed pilot valve,provided with a housing, for controlling the admission of fluid underpressure from said main conduit to said cylinder; an auxiliary conduit;a valve body having a through bore provided with a valve seat and havingan inlet and an outlet communicating respectively with said bore atopposite sides of said seat and directly connected to said auxiliaryconduit, said valve body having one end detachably connected to saidpilot valve housing: a valve member in said bore for said valve seatnormally preventing fluid flow communication between said valve bodyinlet and outlet; a stem at one side of said valve member extendingoutwardly of said bore and having its free end adjacent said pilot valvefor elfecting opening thereof; means providing a seal between said stemand said bore; a second stem at the opposite side of said valve memberextending outwardly of said bore; and a control head detachablyconnected to the other end of said valve body having an elementstructurally independent of said second stem for engaging said secondstem to actuate the same, whereby said valve member is unseated toestablish communication between said inlet and outlet of said valve bodyand said first stem effects opening of said pilot valve.

2. In a fluid distributing system. a source of fluid under pressure: amain discharge conduit connected to said source: a normally closed valvein said conduit having an inlet and an outlet directly connected to saidconduit, and including a cylinder, a piston in said c linder for openingthe valve, and a normally closed pilot valve, provided with a housing.for controlling the admission of fluid under pressure from said mainconduit to said cylinder: a fluid pressure operated warning device: anauxiliary conduit having one end in fluid flow communication with saidsource and havin its other end in communication with said warningdevice: a valve bod having a through bore provided with a valve seat andhaving an inlet and an outlet communicating respectivelv with said boreat o osite sides of said seat and directly connected to said auxiliaryconduit, said valve body having one end detachably connected to saidpilot valve housing: a valve member in said bore for said valve seat nrmally preventing fluid flow communication between said valve bodv inletand outlet: a stem at one side of said valve member extending outwardlyof said bore and having its free end adiacent said ilot valve foreffectin onening thereof; means providing a seal between said stem andsaid bore; a second stem at the op osite side of said valve memberextending outwardly of said bore; and a control head detachablyconnected to the other end of said valve body having an elementstructurally independent of said second stem for engaging said secondstem to actuate the same, whereby said valve member is unseated toestablish communication between said inlet and outlet of said valve bodyand said first stem effects opening of said pilot valve to establishcommunication be tween said main conduit and said cylinder.

3. In a fluid distributing system, a main discharge conduit; a normallyclosed valve in said conduit having an inlet and an outlet directlyconnected to said conduit,

and including a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder for opening thevalve, and a normally closed pilot valve, provided with a housing forcontrolling the admission of fluid under pressure from said main conduitto said cylinder; an auxiliary conduit adjacent said main conduit; avalve body having a vertical through bore provided with a downwardlyfacing valve seat and having a side inlet and a side outletcommunicating respectively with said bore at opposite sides of said seatand directly connected to said auxiliary conduit, said valve body havingits lower end detachably connected to said pilot valve housing; a valvemember in said bore for said valve seat normally preventing fluid flowcommunication between said valve body inlet and outlet; a stem at thelower side of said valve member extending outwardly of said bore havingits lower end adjacent said pilot valve for effecting opening thereof;means providing a seal between said stem and said bore; a second stem atthe upper side of said valve member extending outwardly of said bore;means providing a seal for the upper end of said bore; and a controlhead detachably connected to the upper end of said valve body having anelement structurally independent of said second stern for engaging saidsecond stem to move the same downwardly, whereby said valve member isunseated to establish communication between said inlet and outlet ofsaid valve body and said first stern eflects opening of said pilotvalve.

4. In a fluid distributing system, a main discharge com duit; a normallyclosed valve in said conduit having an inlet and an outlet directlyconnected to said conduit, and including a cylinder, a piston in saidcylinder for opening the valve, and a normally closed pilot valveprovided with a housing for controlling the admission of fluid underpressure from said main conduit to said cylin der; an auxiliary conduit;a valve body having a through bore provided with a valve seat and havingan inlet and an outlet communicating respectively with said bore atopposite sides of said seat and directly connected to said auxiliaryconduit, said valve body having its lower end detachably connected tosaid pilot valve housing; a valve member in said bore for said valveseat normally preventing fluid flow communication between said valvebody inlet and outlet; a stem at the lower side of said valve memberhaving a reduced lower end portion extending outwardly of said bore andbeing adjacent said pilot valve for elfecting opening thereof and havinga shoulder above said portion; means providing a seal between said stemand said bore; said bore having a vent between its lower end and saidseal and having a sealing surface adjacent its lower end adapted to beengaged by said shoulder; a second stem at the upper side of said valvemember extending outwardly of said bore; means providing a seal for theupper end of said bore; and a control head detachably connected to theupper end of said valve body having an element structurally independentof said second stern for engaging said second stem to move the samedownwardly, whereby said valve member is unseated to establishcommunication between said inlet and outlet of said valve body and saidfirst stem effects opening of said pilot valve and said surface andshoulder cooperate to prevent communication between said pilot valvehousing and said vent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS605,049 Nicholsburg May 31, 1898 775,719 Davidson Nov. 22, 1904 902,417Lane Oct. 27, 1908 1,168,744 Rolland Jan. 18, 1916 1,861,916 HenebohleJune 7, 1932 1,884,179 Parks Oct. 25, 1932 2,240,791 Leeseberg May 6,1941 2,588,202 Breit Mar. 4, 1952 2,630,867 Heigis Mar. 10, 19532,639,884 Mitchell May 26, 1953

